Sub menu

Town looks to add sports complex

The town is taking the lead on building a sports complex on West Queen Street, across from the Southington Water Dept. In a bit of a unique process, town officials will work with the property owner and town agencies, including the Planning and Zoning Commission, to garner conceptual approval. The town is acting as the applicant only and will not purchase or develop the land. “It’s very preliminary,” said Southington Economic Director Lou Perillo, of the proposal. The proposal falls on 35 acres of an overall 112 acre lot owned by the Sepko family. The town will seek approval for a 200,000 sq. foot facility with a handful of outdoor fields. The actual numbers are up to the final applicant, should one emerge. According to Perillo, the town has received some interest from developers. He did not go into specifics. “We feel that our demographic bodes well to support a sports complex,” Perillo said. “We feel the time is right.” Perillo said that a sports complex would help the town expand recreationally and would help the town become a “recreation destination.” This is not the first time that a sports complex has been proposed in town. A few years ago, local developer Carl Verderame had a plan to purchase the Smoron estate and develop a complex. The proposal eventually fell to the wayside as the property was awarded to longtime caretaker Sam Manzo, following a prolonged and controversial battle in probate court. Town officials are on board with the new proposal and are hoping that it comes to fruition. “There has been discussion about a sports complex for years,” said Art Secondo, president of the Southington Chamber of Commerce. “I’m just happy that the project sounds reasonable and possible.”